Ryan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Apple’s rumored iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e could get a rare 9GB RAM upgrade to better support Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27.
- The iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the rumored foldable iPhone are expected to follow with 12GB of RAM, as that’s already enough for AI workloads.
- If accurate, this move suggests that Apple Intelligence is now shaping iPhone hardware decisions, and could even influence Android brands to experiment with similar RAM strategies.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo x publicationApple’s next low-end iPhones are expected to ship with 9GB of RAM instead of the 8GB of their predecessors. If the information turns out to be accurate, it would be the first time that Apple has used such an unconventional RAM capacity in an iPhone.
At first glance, that extra gigabyte may not seem particularly exciting. However, the benefit is expected to appear when Apple’s AI features are more deeply integrated into iOS 27. More RAM gives the system additional breathing room, which helps tasks stay responsive instead of slowing down the phone.
Kuo says Apple plans to achieve the jump to 9GB using six 1.5GB memory modules, instead of the four 2GB memory modules used in the current generation. Although Kuo doesn’t mention specific model names, his reference to Apple’s “low-end iPhones” strongly suggests the standard iPhone 18 and the rumored iPhone 18e, which are expected to launch in the first half of 2027.
The iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and high-end Ultra Fold It will reportedly not receive a memory upgrade and will remain at 12GB of RAM. This is likely because they already have enough room for Apple’s current and future AI features, making an increase less necessary.
An interesting question is why Apple will settle for 9GB of RAM instead of jumping straight to 12GB across the line. Kuo doesn’t offer an explanation, but industry-wide memory supply limitations could be one reason. Apple has already adapted prices on parts of its Mac and iPad line in response to changes in RAM costs, so the company may be trying to balance improving AI performance with keeping hardware costs under control.
If this rumor is confirmed, it will highlight how Apple’s AI ambitions are starting to influence hardware decisions as much as software features. It could even set a precedent that Android brands follow, largely because Apple is doing it, and manufacturers could experiment with similar non-standard RAM configurations to better balance AI workloads and profitability in future flagship and mid-range phones.
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